Cho La | |
Map: | China |
Location: | Sichuan near border with Tibet in China |
Range: | Chola Mountains |
Coordinates: | 31.4486°N 98.9239°W |
Cho La, also transliterated as Tro La, is a mountain pass across the Chola Mountains in Dege County, Garze Prefecture, Sichuan, China. In Mandarin Chinese, it is known as Qu'er Pass . The pass reaches a height of and may be snow covered year-round. The pass is an important link between the town of Derge and the rest of Sichuan Province. Historically, it was part of a trade route between Tibet and China through the Kingdom of Derge in Kham.[1] The western flank of the pass is drained by the Zhil Chu and the eastern flank is drained by the Tro Chu . Yihun Lhatso, a glacial-fed lake, is located to the east of the pass.[2]
A tunnel constructed under the Chola Mountains now bypasses the mountain pass and is the world's highest vehicular tunnel.[3] Construction of the tunnel was completed in 2016.[4]